Google has chosen an eclectic mix of 8,000 people, including a clutch of celebrities and tech opinion formers, who will get the chance to test its 'wearable computer' Glass.

Those who wanted to become 'Glass Explorers' had a week in February to submit their reasons why they should, in 50 words, via Google or Twitter.

But there were a couple of catches for the successful entrants - they had to pay $1,500 (£980) and collect their Glass frames from Los Angeles, San Francisco or New York.

The Glass wearable computers display information in a smartphone-like format, are hands-free, can interact with the internet using natural language voice commands and use Google's Android operating system.

Among the well-known names who impressed the #ifihadglass judges were actor Neil Patrick Harris, the former Dougie Howser MD who now plays womanising Barney Stinson in How I Met Your Mother, and Souljaboy, a US rapper whose dance craze swept the nation.

Former House of Representatives speaker and Republican presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich said he would take his "on tours of zoos and museums to share the animals and fossils".

And Imogen Heap, a London-based electronic music composer said she would "hook them up with my gloves to help me navigate music making in 3D".

Former Republican presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich was successful

Influential tech blogger Jeff Jarvis will also get Glass along with actress Alyssa Milano, from Who’s the Boss and Charmed, and Kevin Smith, a cult actor, producer and screenwriter famous for the Jay & Silent Bob franchise.